Dr. Deborah Gioia-Hasick, LCSW, MD, LCSW-C

Dr. Deborah Gioia-Hasick, LCSW, MD, LCSW-C, brings 37 years of experience to her work as a therapist and educator. She earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) in 1981 and completed clinical licensure a few years later. Early in her career, she focused primarily on supporting teens as well as young and emerging adults, developing a strong foundation in meeting clients at pivotal life stages and helping them navigate stress, identity development, and change.

Over 18 years, Dr. Gioia-Hasick worked extensively with young adults living with schizophrenia and with their family supports. This work deepened her understanding of serious mental illness and how symptoms can affect relationships, daily functioning, and family systems. She facilitated groups for young adults along with monthly multi-family groups, using evidence-based practices centered on psychosocial education, symptom management, and rebuilding communication and cognitive skills. She also emphasizes the importance of a team-based, thoughtful approach to diagnosis that keeps the individual at the center of care.

Dr. Gioia-Hasick completed a year of additional training at UCLA in sexual health and sex therapy interventions and provided couples counseling through that program. She has also pursued training in mindfulness-based stress reduction and has taught these methods to students and in group settings.

After completing her PhD in 2000, she has taught Master’s and PhD students since 2001. Her dissertation, "Meaning of Work for Young Adults with Schizophrenia," reflects her ongoing interest in vocational identity development and helping young adults clarify and pursue personal goals related to work. In her teaching, she has emphasized hands-on evidence-based care, including CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, and she often begins with motivational interviewing to support readiness and alignment before moving into more targeted interventions. She has also received training in climate-focused trauma and resiliency and is interested in working with clients experiencing concerns related to climate.